Hollywood actress Jean Simmons dies at 80

Jean Simmons, whose ethereal screen presence and starring roles with Hollywood's top actors made her a mid-century film icon, has died at age 80, AP reported.

The actress, who sang with Marlon Brando in "Guys and Dolls," costarred with Gregory Peck and played Ophelia to Laurence Olivier's Hamlet, died of lung cancer Friday at her home in Santa Monica.

Already a stunning beauty at 14, Simmons made her movie debut in the 1944 British production "Give Us the Moon."

Several minor films followed before British director David Lean gave the London-born actress her breakthrough role of Estella, companion to the reclusive Miss Havisham in 1946's "Great Expectations." That was followed by the exotic "Black Narcissus," and then Olivier's Oscar-winning "Hamlet" in 1948, for which Simmons was nominated as best supporting actress.

She would be nominated for another Oscar, for best actress for 1969's "The Happy Ending," before moving largely to television roles in the 1970s, '80s and '90s.

She won an Emmy Award for her role in the 1980s miniseries "The Thorn Birds."

Her other notable films included "Elmer Gantry" (with Burt Lancaster), "Until They Sail" (with Newman), "The Big Country" (Peck), "Spartacus," (Douglas), "This Earth Is Mine" (Rock Hudson), "All the Way Home" (Robert Preston), "Mister Buddwing" (James Garner) and "Rough Night in Jericho" (Dean Martin).